Klaas Jan Huntelaar

Klaas Jan Huntelaar

• After an inconspicuous start to his career at PSV Eindhoven and De Graafschap, Huntelaar came into his own when scoring 26 goals in 35 games on loan at AGOVV Apeldoorn in the Eerste Divisie; joined sc Heerenveen in 2004, registering 17 Eredivisie goals in his first season plus three in the UEFA Cup.

• Seventeen goals in the first half of 2005/06 earned him a move to AFC Ajax, where he carried on in the same prolific vein, scoring 16 in as many games en route to the Eredivisie top scorers' crown and also hitting both goals in the Dutch Cup final (2-1 v PSV).

• Retained the trophy with Ajax in 2007 (scoring again in the final, against AZ Alkmaar) and regained the Eredivisie top scorers' prize in 2007/08 – again with 33 goals.

• Touted for a 2006 FIFA World Cup call-up, he instead played at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where he struck four goals, including two in the final against Ukraine, as the Jong Oranje won the trophy for the first time; was top scorer and Golden Player at the tournament and became the Netherlands' all-time record scorer at U21 level with 18 in 22 games.

• Made a remarkable senior debut for the Netherlands in August 2006, scoring twice in a 4-0 defeat of the Republic of Ireland; was also on target on his major tournament debut at UEFA EURO 2008, scoring on his only appearance, against Romania.

• Left Ajax for Real Madrid CF in January 2009 − as a replacement for injured compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy − but moved to AC Milan after just half a season; struck seven Serie A goals but restricted playing time led to him moving on again in the summer of 2010.

• Helped the Netherlands finish runners-up at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, scoring the winner against Cameroon in the group stage, and was in blistering form throughout UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying, scoring 12 from eight appearances.

• Signed for Schalke in August 2010 for €14m and though he only posted eight Bundesliga goals in his first season in Germany, he topped the scorers' charts with 29 in 2011/12 (in addition to ten goals in the UEFA Europa League).

• Returned ten more Bundesliga goals in 2012/13 but injury decimated the first half of the following campaign meaning he struck two goals from just two appearances in the Netherlands' successful 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

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